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I belong to Bobby Jack, for 1 am a cat, a big blue cat, 
and Jeremiah is my name. 











JEREMIAH THE CAT 

By 

William Maurice Culp 

n 

Author of 

ANI) A DUCK WADDLES TOO 



Illustrated by 

Eulalie Banks Wilson 


JUNIOR PRESS BOOKS 


alberlWhitman 

ty 4 co 


CHICAGO 

1939 



% ■> 








Copyright, 1939 

by 

Albert Whitman & Company 


rzx o 



JUl 28 '» 3 


Lithographed in the U.S.A. 

©ClA 1 30552 

u 











CONTENTS 


PAGE 

Jeremiah the Cat. 7 

A Surprise. 21 

The Circus at School. 2 9 

Poem to Jeremiah. 33 

The Tiger Hunt. 34 

The Tiger Song ... 4° 

Jeremiah Goes Hunting. 4 1 

The Gopher Song. 45 

Jeremiah Was Three. 47 

The Birthday Party . 5° 

A Birthday Song . 5 6 

Jeremiah Climbs a Tree. 57 

Jeremiah Is Afraid . 59 

The Fireman Comes. 61 

A Letter from Mary Ann . 65 

Jeremiah Goes Calling. 67 

The Song of Susan. 7 1 

Great News . 7 2 

Jeremiah Made Ready. 75 

The Cat Show . 7 8 

The Cats in the Show .. .. 82 

The Cage of Jeremiah. 86 

The Judging . 8 9 

The Prize . 93 



























IVe have a big yellow ball to play with and roll 

















JEREMIAH THE CAT 
Jeremiah, Jeremiah, 
Jeremiah is my name. 

I am a cat. 


7 




JEREMIAH THE CAT 


I am a cat, 

A Big Blue Cat. 

Jeremiah is my name. 

I sing all day 

Purr-purr, purr-purr, purr-purr, 
For I am a cat. 

A Big Blue Cat, 

And Jeremiah is my name. 
Purr-purr, purr-purr, purr-purr, 
Jeremiah is my name, 

Purr-purr, purr-purr. 

I have long hair 
that stands out so. 

I have two eyes 
that see all things. 

I have two ears 

that hear all things. 


JEREMIAH THE CAT 

I have one tongue 

that tastes all things. 

I have four legs 
to run all ways. 

I have one nose 
to smell all things. 

For I am a cat, 

A Great Blue Cat, 

And Jeremiah is my name. 
My eyes are green. 

My ears are short. 

My nose is wet. 

My tongue is rough. 

My hair is long. 

For I am a cat, 

A Great Blue Cat, 

And Jeremiah is my name. 


9 



I have two eyes that see all things 


io 


I live in a house, 

A great green house, 



















The Great Green House 


11 


That stands on a hill 
’Way up from the town 
Where the street cars run. 














JEREMIAH THE CAT 


There the automobiles go 
Honk-honk, honk-honk. 

And the street bells ring 
Ting-a-ling, ting-a-ling. 

There Bobby Jack goes to school. 
Bobby Jack belongs to me. 

I belong to Bobby Jack. 

We both belong to Mother 
and Father, 

Who live in the house, 

The great green house 
On the top of the hill 
In the great green house 
On the top of the hill. 

Bobby Jack has a room 
Which has four windows 


JEREMIAH THE CAT 


That look toward the town 
Where the street cars run. 

And the automobiles go 
Honk-honk, honk, honk. 

And the street bells ring 
Ting-a-ling, ting-a-ling. 

I live in the room of Bobby Jack. 

I have a bed 

in a large yellow box 
That stands near a window 
Which looks toward the town. 

We play in the room of Bobby Jack. 
We have a big yellow ball 
to play with and roll. 

Then I sing and sing 
Purr-purr, purr-purr, purr-purr. 


13 


When Bobby Jack goes to school 
I am left all alone. 

I wait and wait and wait 
For Bobby Jack to come home 
from school. 













































We go to the kitchen 












































































JEREMIAH THE CAT 


I know when Bobby Jack is home. 
He calls, “Jeremiah, Jeremiah.” 

I hear him calling 
“Jeremiah, Jeremiah.” 

I answer fast, 

“Meow, meow, meow.” 

I run down the stairs 
to the door. 

There Bobby Jack 
picks me up. 

We go to the kitchen. 

Bobby Jack talks to the cook. 
Gretchen gives Bobby Jack a 
cookie. 

Bobby Jack gets my plate, 

It is a large white plate. 

He gets a big bottle of milk. 


16 


JEREMIAH THE CAT 


He pours milk for me to drink. 

I like Bobby Jack to pour 
the milk for me. 

It has cream in it. 

It tastes good. 

Then I am happy 
And I sing and sing. 

For I am a cat, 

A Big Blue Cat, 

And Jeremiah is my name. 
Gretchen gives Bobby Jack a cake. 
She says, “No more.” 

Then Bobby Jack and I go 
out to play in the garden 
Where the sun is shining 
upon the green grass. 

There we roll the yellow ball 


17 


JEREMIAH THE CAT 


In front of the window 
That is in the side of the house 
On the top of the hill— 

The big green house 
With the yellow blinds 
That looks toward the town 
Where the automobiles go 
Honk-honk, honk-honk, 

And the street bells ring 
Ting-a-ling, ting-a-ling. 

In the garden is a fish pond. 

In the fish pond are water lilies. 
The goldfish swim in the water 
under and around 
the water lilies. 

I watch the goldfish. 





We both watch the goldfish 

Bobby Jack watches the goldfish. 
We both watch the goldfish. 


19 



























JEREMIAH THE CAT 


I put my paw in the water. 

I try to catch a fish. 

Bobby Jack tries to catch a fish. 
The fish jump here and there. 
Bobby Jack laughs and laughs. 

I laugh louder and louder 
with a purr-purr, purr-purr. 
Bobby Jack laughs: 

“Ha-ha, ha-ha, ha-ha.” 

So we both laugh: 

“Purr-purr, ha-ha, purr-purr, ha-ha.” 
So we play 

The whole time through 
For I am a cat, 

A Big Blue Cat, 

And Jeremiah is my name. 


20 


A SURPRISE 


“Mother/’ asked Bobby Jack, 

“May I take Jeremiah 
to school?” 

I listened and listened hard. 
Mother thought and thought. 

“Why do you want to take 

Jeremiah to school?” she asked. 
“We are making a circus,” 
said Bobby Jack. 

“Jeremiah will be a tiger, 

A Big Blue Tiger, 

And sit in a cage.” 


21 


JEREMIAH THE CAT 


I listened and listened 

to hear what Mother would say. 

Bobby Jack listened and listened. 

Mother then asked, “Would the 
teacher like Jeremiah?” 

Bobby Jack said, “Yes.” 

So I began to purr. 

Then Mother said, “Yes, 

You may take Jeremiah to school. 

But you must dress 
him up.” 

Bobby Jack said he would 
right away 

So this is how 

Bobby Jack made me 
ready for school. 


22 



First we went upstairs 

to the room of Bobby Jack. 
Then we went to the bathroom. 
Bobby Jack ran warm water 
in the wash bowl. 


23 









































JEREMIAH THE CAT 


He brought pink soap 
that smelled sweet. 

He brought a big brush. 
Then he got a big 
white towel. 

I looked and looked 
at Bobby Jack. 

Bobby Jack said, “Jeremiah, 
You must have a bath 
before you go to school, 
just like me.” 

So I began to sing, 
“Purr-purr, purr-purr.” 

For I was to go to school. 
Even if I am a cat, 

A Big Blue Cat, 

And Jeremiah is my name. 


24 


JEREMIAH THE CAT 


I like warm water. 

Bobby Jack put me in the bowl. 
He wet me all over. 

He rubbed soap over me. 

He took the brush 

and rubbed and rubbed. 

I began to be all white. 

Bubbles were in the water. 

Bobby Jack laughed and laughed. 
I laughed and laughed. 

We both laughed. 

“Ha-ha, purr-purr, 
ha-ha, purr-purr.” 

Soap got into my eyes. 

Soap got into my ears. 

Then Bobby Jack poured 
warm water over me. 


25 


JEREMIAH THE CAT 


The soap went away. 

Then Bobby Jack 
took the towel. 

He rubbed and rubbed. 

Sparks came out of my hair. 

Bobby Jack put me 

in the window in the sun. 

I felt fine. 

Then Bobby Jack took a 
hard, dry brush. 

He brushed and brushed until 
my blue fur shone. 

Mother came and looked at me. 

“How nice Jeremiah looks,” 
she said. 

I felt proud and happy. 

“Bobby Jack,” she said, 


2 6 


I felt proud and happy 

“You must get a ribbon 
for Jeremiah. 

















JEREMIAH THE CAT 

Come to my room. 

I will give you one.” 

Bobby Jack went to the room. 

He brought back a 
large yellow ribbon. 

He tied the ribbon 
around my neck. 

Mother looked at me. 

Bobby Jack looked at me. 

Both said, “How wonderful 
Jeremiah looks after his bath.” 
Then Bobby Jack said, “He is ready 
to go to school.” 

So I went to school singing 
Purr-purr, purr-purr, purr-purr. 


28 


THE CIRCUS AT SCHOOL 


Father took us to school 
in his big red automobile. 

The school had many rooms. 
There were many boys and girls. 
They were playing in the yard. 
They laughed and ran. 
Everybody was happy. 

Bobby Jack carried me 
into his schoolroom. 

Bobby Jack said to his teacher, 
“Miss White, I have brought 
Jeremiah to school.” 

Miss White looked at me. 

She said, “Bobby Jack, 

What a wonderful cat. 


29 


JEREMIAH THE CAT 


“ Children, look at Jeremiah’s 
bright blue fur.” 

I felt happy and started 
to sing, “Purr-purr.” 

For I am a Cat, 

A Great Blue Cat, 

And Jeremiah is my name. 

We had a fine day at school. 

The Circus was great fun. 

There were many cages. 

Three or four boys and girls 
belonged to each cage. 

The cage of Bobby Jack was 
for a tiger. 

I was the tiger. 

I sat behind the bars. 


30 



Only Blue Tiger in Captivity 














































JEREMIAH THE CAT 


I tried to look like 
a fierce blue tiger 
with my yellow ribbon 
and shining blue fur. 

I growled, “Grrr, grrr, grrr.” 
They put a sign 
over my cage, 

ONLY BLUE TIGER 
IN 

CAPTIVITY. 

That was a big word, 
CAPTIVITY. 

I felt proud. 

Then the teacher said, 
“Children, we must write 
a poem for Jeremiah.” 

So this is the poem 
the children wrote. 


3 2 


POEM TO JEREMIAH 
Tiger, tiger, 

Jeremiah, 

Is that what you are? 

No, I am a cat, 

A Great Blue Cat, 

And Jeremiah is my name. 

Tiger, tiger, 

Jeremiah, 

Do you like to go to school? 

Meow, meow, 

I answer back, 

I like to go to school. 

And be a cat, 

A tiger cat, 

With Jeremiah as my name. 

33 


THE TIGER HUNT 


The teacher asked Bobby Jack 
to write a story 
about a tiger. 

Bobby Jack thought and thought. 

I, Jeremiah, thought and thought. 

So Bobby Jack wrote this story 
about a Tiger Hunt. 

Once upon a time 
there was a tiger 
named Jeremiah. 

He lived in a wild forest. 

The trees were tall. 

Monkeys lived in the trees. 

Elephants lived under the trees. 

Lions lived in the tall grass. 


34 


A tiger named Jeremiah 


A little Black Boy called 
Bobby Jack lived in the forest 


















JEREMIAH THE CAT 


His home was made of grass. 

It was round and had a very 
small door. Bobby Jack lived 
with his father and mother. 

They were called Hoopla 
the Big and Lulu the Little. 

Hoopla the Big hunted in the forest. 

Lulu the Little stayed at home. 

Bobby Jack hunted with his father. 

This is how they hunted 
Jeremiah the Tiger. 

They dug a deep hole 

in a path before a water hole 
where Jeremiah came to drink. 

They put a net in the hole 
and covered it with grass. 


36 


JEREMIAH THE CAT 


Jeremiah the Tiger did not see 
the deep hole. 

He fell into the hole hard. 

He was caught in the net. 

He could not get out. 

Jeremiah the Tiger growled, 

“Grrr, grrr, grrr.” 

Bobby Jack and Hoopla the Big 
came running fast. 

They saw Jeremiah the Tiger 
in the net in the deep hole. 

They shouted, “Boomla, Boomla.” 

Which means in forest talk, 

“We have a Tiger cat, a Tiger cat.” 

So Jeremiah the Tiger was put 
in a strong cage. 

A man came from far off. 


37 



He gave Hoopla the Big many 
things. 

He took Jeremiah the Tiger far 
away. 

He put him in a large cage. 


38 


















JEREMIAH THE CAT 

The cage was sent to a Circus. 

Over the cage was this sign: 

JEREMIAH THE TIGER 
BIGGEST TIGER 
IN 

CAPTIVITY 

Many boys and girls came 
to see Jeremiah the Tiger. 

He was yellow with black stripes. 

He was not blue like 
Jeremiah the Cat. 

He walked up and down, and 
growled, “Grrr, grrr, grrr.” 

This way Bobby Jack ended the 
story. 


39 


THE TIGER SONG 
Boomla, boomla, boomla, 
A Tiger Cat am I. 

I prowl all night 
All out of sight 
A forest meal to find. 

Boomla, boomla, boomla, 
A Tiger Cat am I. 

The night is dark, 

The dogs do bark, 

So hungry I do go. 

Boomla, boomla, boomla, 
A Tiger Cat am I. 

The hole is deep, 

My fate I meet, 

A Tiger Circus Cat to be. 


JEREMIAH GOES HUNTING 

Bobby Jack sang the Tiger song. 

I, Jeremiah, liked the Tiger song. 

I thought about the Tiger hunt. 

I, Jeremiah, said to Bobby Jack, 
“Meow, meow, meow.” 

That meant this time 
in cat talk 

“I want to go hunting.” 

I want to go hunting now. 

So Bobby Jack and I 

went out into the garden. 

We went down to the lower wall. 
In that place was tall grass. 

Rose bushes were over the wall. 

I looked around. 



Bobby Jack sang the Tiger Song 


I saw an open hole. 

Bobby Jack saw it also. 

Bobby Jack cried out, 

“Jeremiah, there is a gopher hole. 


42 









JEREMIAH THE CAT 


The gopher is eating the rose roots. 

Jeremiah, you must catch 
the gopher.” 

So I hid myself 
behind some grass. 

I watched the gopher hole. 

I watched a long time. 

Bobby Jack sat under a tree. 

He went to sleep. 

I, Jeremiah, did not go to sleep. 

I wanted to catch the gopher 
that was eating the rose roots. 

So I watched and watched. 

I looked very sharp. 

There was a little sound 
of scratching feet. 

The gopher was peeping 
out of the hole. 


43 


JEREMIAH THE CAT 


He peeped here and he peeped there. 

I, Jeremiah the Cat, was very still. 

I watched and watched. 

Soon the gopher came out 
of the hole. 

Then I, Jeremiah, jumped high. 

I jumped upon the gopher. 

I caught him with my claws 
and held him in my mouth. 

The sound wakened Bobby Jack. 

Bobby Jack shouted, “Jeremiah 
has caught a gopher.” 

I, Jeremiah, was happy. 

The rose bush was saved. 

This is how I, Jeremiah, 
first went hunting. 


44 


THE GOPHER SONG 
The gopher, 

Like a raggety, wickity little mole, 
Lived in a long and darksome hole. 
His fur was short 
From the last report 
As he burrowed beside the wall. 

To the great world outside 
Where the most folks reside, 

The gopher, 

Like a raggety, wickity little mole, 
Who lived in a long, dark hole, 

Was not a sport at all. 

For he lived in the dark, 

Even out in the park, 

And ate the roots of all. 

So a cat came along 

And that was the end of the gopher. 


45 



I jumped upon the gopher 



















JEREMIAH WAS THREE 


I, Jeremiah, was three years old. 

I was a great big cat. 

I thought myself very wise. 

I had been to school 
with Bobby Jack. 

I had heard Bobby Jack 

read the story of the Tiger Hunt. 

I had gone hunting for the gopher 
down by the wall. 

I could roll the yellow ball. 

I could wash myself 
bright and clean. 

I did not spill a drop 

of milk from my white dish, 
when I ate my dinner. 


47 


JEREMIAH THE CAT 


I, Jeremiah, felt very wise. 

For was I not 

A Big Blue Cat 

With Jeremiah as my name? 

So I sang and sang. 

Purr-purr, purr-purr, purr-purr. 
Mother one day said 
to Bobby Jack, 

“Why, Jeremiah is three years old. 
He should have a birthday.” 
Bobby Jack jumped and laughed. 
He said, “A birthday party 
for Jeremiah. 

We must plan for the party.” 

So Bobby Jack and I 
sat down to think. 


48 


JEREMIAH THE CAT 


We thought, thought and thought. 

I purred and purred and purred. 

“First,” said Bobby Jack, “we must 
have three boys and girls. 

Each boy and girl must 
bring a cat. 

That will make four cats 
and four boys and girls.” 

I purred and purred. 

“We must,” said Bobby Jack, 

“have a long table. 

The cats must have four dishes. 

Each cat must have some cream. 

Each cat must have a goldfish 
in a bowl before him. 

The party will be grand,” 
ended Bobby Jack. 


49 



THE BIRTHDAY PARTY 
The day of the party came. 

I was all dressed up. 


50 






























JEREMIAH THE CAT 


I had on a new pink ribbon. 

Mary Ann came with Susan. 

Dick came with Tim. 

Sally came with Tillie. 

Bobby Jack had me, Jeremiah. 

Susan had on a yellow ribbon. 

Tim had on a green ribbon. 

Tillie had on a blue ribbon. 

And I, Jeremiah, had on my 
pink ribbon. 

There were four cats 

and two boys and two girls. 

“There are eight of us,” 
said Bobby Jack. 

“Let us play in the garden first.” 

So Mary Ann, Dick, Sally, and 
Bobby Jack played in the garden 


51 


JEREMIAH THE CAT 


Witn Susan, Tim, Tillie, 
and me, Jeremiah. 

They played school. 

Bobby Jack was the teacher. 

He had Mary Ann recite. 

Mary Ann recited this: 

“Mary had a little lamb, 

Its fleece was white as snow. 

And everywhere that Mary went 
The lamb was sure to go.” 

Then they had me, Jeremiah, recite. 
I recited this way: 

“Meow, meow, meow. 

Purr-purr, purr-purr, purr-purr. 
MEOW— 

PURR—PURR. 


52 


JEREMIAH THE CAT 


Meow, meow, meow, meow.” 

Mother then called to us, 

“Come in to the birthday supper.” 

We all went into the house. 

There was a table 

for the boys and girls. 

Right beside it was one 
for us cats. 

Upon the table were 
three blue candles. 

Bobby Jack lighted the candles. 

There were four dishes 
upon the table. 

Bobby Jack poured cream 
into the dishes. 

All of us cats began to eat. 


53 


JEREMIAH THE CAT 


Bobby Jack then gave each 
of us cats a piece of fish. 

“That was fine,” we all purred. 

Then the boys and girls 
sat down to eat. 

They had ice cream and cake. 

There was candy in a dish. 

The ice cream was pink 
and green and white. 

The cake was white and had 
frosting on it. 

It looked very good. 

I, Jeremiah, thought this was fine. 

So did the other three cats, 

Susan, Tim, and Tillie. 


54 




All of us cats began to eat 






































A BIRTHDAY SONG 
One day a year 
It does appear 
The Birthday comes along. 

Upon that day 
We all are gay 
As it is one of song. 

The candles burn 

As lit by turn 

To shine upon the throng. 

The cake we ate 

As is its fate 

So it can be no wrong. 

To boys and girls 
Of locks and curls 
The Birthday does belong. 


56 


JEREMIAH CLIMBS A 
PALM TREE 

Boomla, boomla, boomla, 

A Tiger Cat am I. 

I growl all day, 

Grrr, grrr, grrr. 

I am a cat, 

A Big Blue Cat, 

And Jeremiah is my name. 

I wanted to climb 

forest trees like a tiger. 

So I went out the front door. 
There stands a tall palm tree. 
Its head is bushy. 

The branches spread 
all around. 


JEREMIAH THE CAT 


I growled like a Tiger Cat, 

“Grrr, grrr, grrr.” 

I started climbing up the trunk. 

I saw the branches far up. 

I kept climbing. 

I growled “Grrr, grrr.” 

The birds flew away. 

I reached the first branches. 

I rested and looked around. 

There were branches and branches. 
There were thorns and thorns. 

I walked very carefully. 

The birds scolded and scolded. 

I growled like a Tiger Cat, 

“Grrr, grrr, grrr.” 


58 


JEREMIAH IS AFRAID 


I felt proud. 

I was a hunting Tiger Cat. 

I was in a jungle tree. 

The birds were afraid of me. 

Everybody was afraid of me. 

For was I not Jeremiah, 

A Big Blue Tiger Cat? 

I found a place to rest 
in the sun. 

There I washed and brushed 
myself proudly. 

Then I went to sleep, 
as all good cats do 
in the afternoon. 

It was after school. 


J K R K M I A H T H K C A T 


Bobby Jack was home 
I heard him calling, 

“Jeremiah, Jeremiah, Jeremiah.” 

I answered back, 

“Meow, meow, meow.” 

Bobby Jack came out of the house 
and listened and looked. 

I said, “Meow, meow, meow.” 
Then Bobby Jack saw me 
’way up in the palm tree. 
“Jeremiah, come right down,” 
said Bobby Jack. 

I started to go but the 
ground was far below. 

I was afraid to climb down. 

Bobby Jack called and called. 


6 o 


JEREMIAH THE CAT 


I was afraid to go down, and I 
meowed and meowed 
and meowed. 

Father and Mother came 
out of the house. 

They all called and called 
and called. 

THE FIREMAN COMES 

It was getting dark. 

To be a Tiger Cat was not fun. 

I did not growl Grrr any more. 

Father said we must call 

the firemen. They have ladders. 

He went into the house. 

Bobby Jack started to cry. 

I started to cry, “Meow, meow.” 


61 



There was a great clanging 
of bells. 

A big Fire Truck rolled up. 
Many people came running. 
“They are going to save a cat, 
They all cried. 

The firemen took a ladder. 















Then Bobby Jack came up the ladder 































JEREMIAH THE CAT 


They put it against the tree. 

A fireman climbed the ladder. 

He said, “Here, kitty; here, kitty.” 
I crawled back and back. 

I was afraid of the big fireman. 
Then Bobby Jack came 
up the ladder. 

He called, “Jeremiah, Jeremiah.” 

I went to Bobby Jack. 

He carried me down the ladder. 

I was happy. \ 

I said to Bobby Jack, 

“Meow, meow, meow.” 

That meant in cat talk this time, 
“I will not play Boomla 
Tiger Cat any more.” 


64 


JEREMIAH THE CAT 


A LETTER FROM MARY ANN 
Bobby Jack was all excited. 

He came calling me, 

“Jeremiah, Jeremiah, come 
listen to this letter.” 

I ran fast. 

Bobby Jack read this letter: 
“Dear Bobby Jack:— 

I saw in the paper 

how you saved Jeremiah. 

I am so glad. 

I hope you and Jeremiah 
can come and see 
Susan and me tomorrow. 

Your friend, 

Mary Ann.” 


6 












































/ was all washed and brushed 


JEREMIAH GOES CALLING 

Bobby Jack read 
the letter to Mother. 

Mother said, “Yes, you 
may go tomorrow. 

I will take you and call 

upon the mother of Mary Ann.” 

Tomorrow came. 

I was all washed and brushed. 

Bobby Jack was all washed 
and brushed. 












JEREMIAH THE CAT 

Mother drove us 
in the big red car. 

We went through the town. 

We saw many people. 

There were many automobiles. 
They made many sounds. 

Honk, honk, honk, honk. 

Bing, bang, bing, bang. 

I sang purr-purr, purr-purr. 

Bobby Jack laughed. 

“Ha-ha, ha-ha, ha-ha.” 

We came to the house of Mary Ann. 
Mary Ann and Susan saw us. 

Susan and I 

purred and purred and purred. 


68 



JEREMIAH THE CAT 

Bobby Jack and Mary Ann 
played in the garden. 

We played with them. 

We had something to eat there. 

Mary Ann poured milk for Susan 
and me into two pink plates. 

Bobby Jack and Mary Ann had 
little white cakes to eat. 

I showed Susan how 

to growl like a Tiger Cat. 

Grrr, grrr, grrr. 

We both growled, 

Grrr, grrr, grrr. 

Bobby Jack and Mary Ann 
thought that was funny. 


69 



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But if a mouse came along 


So we growled again, 
Grrr, grrr, grrr. 


70 


















THE SONG OF SUSAN 
A lady cat am I, 

Susan is my name. 

I would not harm a fly— 
Such is my fame. 

But if a mouse came along, 
An ugly, wiggly little mouse, 
Then I could do no wrong 
If I should rid the house. 

A lady cat am I, 

Susan is my name. 

I like to sleep all day 
Before the window pane; 

But when the dark is here 
I prowl and prowl and prowl, 
For then I have no fear 
Of the fluttery, screechy owl. 


GREAT NEWS 


Mary Ann asked Bobby Jack, 

“Are you going to the Cat Show?” 

“When is it?” asked Bobby Jack. 

“Next week,” said Mary Ann. 

“I am going to enter Susan. 

Are you going to enter Jeremiah?” 

I listened. Susan listened. 

“I shall have to ask Mother,” 
said Bobby Jack. 

We all ran into the house. 

“Mother,” said Bobby Jack, “may I 
enter Jeremiah 
in the Cat Show?” 

Mother laughed. “Are you going 
to let Mary Ann enter Susan?” 


72 



JEREMIAH THE CAT 


She asked the mother of Mary Ann. 

“Yes,” Mary Ann’s mother said. 

Then Susan and I 

purred and growled, Grrr. 

For we would be Tiger Cats 
in the Cat Show. 

Then Mary Ann and Bobby Jack 
began to make plans. 

“We must have cages 

for Susan and Jeremiah,” 
said Bobby Jack. 

“Yes,” said Mary Ann, “we must 
have something very extra.” 

Soon Bobby Jack and I went 
home. We were both 
too excited to sleep much. 


73 



I was to be a Tiger Cat 
















































JEREMIAH MADE READY 
FOR THE SHOW 


I am a cat, 

A Big Blue Cat, 

And Jeremiah is my name. 

I am to go to the Cat Show. 

It is to be next week. 

Bobby Jack and I made plans. 
Two days before the show 
Bobby Jack gave me a 
very extra bath. 

He brushed and brushed my hair 
until it shone. 

He took a little brush 

and brushed my feet and tail. 
He took some fine powder 
and rubbed my ears. 


75 


JEREMIAH THE CAT 


Bobby Jack brushed my tail 
until it fluffed all up. 

My hair fluffed out 
all around me. 

I looked at myself in a mirror. 

I thought I looked 
very fine. 

Bobby Jack gave me cream 
to eat in a new blue dish. 

He said I must not 
run in the grass. 

For then I would get 
wet and dirty— 

For I was to be a Tiger Cat 

And go to the Cat Show. 


76 



JEREMIAH THE CAT 


The morning of the show 
Bobby Jack called, 

“Jeremiah, come here quick.” 

I ran to where Bobby Jack was. 

He had a little chain. 

On the chain was 
a little silver bell. 

It tinkled and tinkled and tinkled. 
Bobby Jack put it around my neck. 
When I moved the bell 
tinkled and tinkled. 

I was brushed some more. 

We went out to the big red car. 

I purred and purred, 

For I was Jeremiah the Cat. 


77 


THE CAT SHOW 


The Cat Show was held 
in a big building. 

We went into what was called 

THE EXHIBITION ROOM 
Bobby Jack could hardly say 
EXHIBITION 

There were rows and rows 
of cages. 

Each cage had a little box 
to hold drinking water. 

There was sweet grass 
on the floor of the cages. 
Above the cages were 
many banners. 

Around the walls were banners. 


78 



There were rows and rows of cages 





















































JEREMIAH THE CAT 


On the walls were pictures 
of funny-looking cats. 

There were lots of people 
running around. 

Everybody was busy bringing in 
all kinds of cats. 

I never knew there were 
so many cats in the world. 

Bobby Jack was excited. 

“Mother,” he asked, “do you think 
Jeremiah will win a prize?” 

“That is hard to tell,” said Mother. 

“Jeremiah is a very fine cat. 

He might win a prize. 

Let us hope so.” 


80 


JEREMIAH THE CAT 


That was something new to me. 

I, Jeremiah, was to be judged. 

I do not want to seem proud 
but I knew I looked fine 
in the mirror. 

My blue fur shone. 

My hair fluffed all out. 

My whiskers looked big. 

My eyes slanted just so. 

I looked fat and well. 

I hoped that I would 
win a prize. 

For that would please Bobby Jack. 

So like a Tiger Cat 

I growled, “Grrr, grrr, grrr.” 


81 


THE CATS IN THE SHOW 


I could not count all 
of the cats in the show. 

There were black cats, white 
cats, yellow cats, gray cats. 

There were cats with long tails 
and cats with no tails at all. 

There were cats with short hair 
and cats with long hair. 

There were fat cats and lean cats. 

There were cats that meowed 
the whole day through. 

There were cats that licked 
their chops. 

There were cats that washed 
their whiskers. 



There were black cats, white cats , yellow cats . 

gray cats 























































JEREMIAH THE CAT 


Everything was strange to us. 
People kept coming down the walk. 
They had books in their hands. 
They would look at me and say, 
“Jeremiah, full blooded Persian, 
Blue, number one thousand.” 
“Susan, one thousand and one, 
Persian, white.” 

It kept up that way all day. 

Many boys and girls came. 

Most everybody stopped 
at our cages. 

Bobby Jack said to Mother, 

“The people think Jeremiah 
is a wonderful cat.” 


84 


JEREMIAH THE CAT 


There were kittens that 
cried for their milk. 

Susan had a cage on one side. 

Tim had a cage on the other side. 

Tillie was in a cage 
across the walk. 

We were all washed and brushed. 

I had on my silver bell. 

Susan, Tim, and Tillie 
had on new ribbons. 

We felt at home and 

could talk with each other. 

But the bars were between us. 

I asked Susan how she felt. 

Susan said, “Not so well.” 


8 



The bars were like silver 


THE CAGE OF JEREMIAH 
I liked my cage. 

The bars were like silver. 

I had my own silver dish 
in the cage for my dinner. 

It had my name on it. 


86 


























Take that cat over there 

















JEREMIAH THE CAT 


People saw the name and laughed, 
“Why, look at the cat’s dish 
with the name on it.” 

I liked that. 

I was fed by Bobby Jack. 

He then took me out of the cage 
and brushed me some more. 
“Jeremiah,” said Bobby Jack, 

“You must be a good cat. 

They are going to judge you soon.” 
“Meow,” I answered back. 

That meant this time in cat talk 
That I, Jeremiah, the Cat, 

Would stand up or sit up straight 
just as the judges wished. 


THE JUDGING 


The judges came and said, 

“You are next.” 

Mary Ann carried Susan. 

Dick carried Tim. 

Sallie carried Tillie. 

And Bobbie Jack carried me. 

They had rows of cats 
on a table. 

The judges walked up and down. 

Then one said to Bobby Jack, 

“Take that cat over there.” 

I, Jeremiah, was that cat. 

I felt sad. I was not 
good enough to be 
with the other cats. 


89 



We were put on a table 





































Bobby Jack felt sad also. 

The judges went up and down. 
They sent three other cats 
to where we were. 

Susan was one of the cats. 


91 






JEREMIAH THE CAT 


The other cats were sent back 
to their cages. 

They brought up a great 
many other cats. 

Some were put with us. 

The others were sent away. 

After a long time there were 
ten of us set apart. 

We all felt sad. 

For we thought we should be 
looked over more. 

And so it was. 

The judges then called out, 

“Bring those cats over here.” 

We were put on the table. 

The judges walked up and down. 


92 


JEREMIAH THE CAT 


They talked together. 

They said to Bobby Jack, 

“Take your cat over there.” 

I was the first cat to go. 

I felt very sad. 

Bobby Jack felt very sad. 

Susan was next to go. 

They sent each cat away until 
none was left. 

Then the judges talked together. 
THE PRIZE 

One judge then came to the front. 
He said, “Ladies and gentlemen, 
We will now award the prizes. 

First will be the Grand Prize award. 


93 



He took the great silver cup 













/ growled and growled with joy 


This award is for 

the best cat of the whole show. 
The award goes to Jeremiah, number 
one thousand, a Blue Persian.” 
Bobby Jack carried me up. 

He took the great silver cup. 


95 










JEREMIAH THE CAT 

He said, “Thank you, Mr. Judge.” 

I was happy. 

Bobby Jack was happy 

Father and Mother were very proud. 

Susan was judged the 

second best cat in the show. 
Mary Ann was happy. 

I shook my neck. 

My silver bell jingled. 

I growled and growled with joy, 
“Grrr, grrr, grrr.” 

I am a cat, 

A Big Blue Cat, 

And Jeremiah is my name. 

To boys and girls 
of all the world 
My story now is told. 


96 

























































